Remarks from Co-Chair Joyce Nakato at the National Stakeholder’s Meeting on the Implemenation of the National Strategy to End Child Marriage.

“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

Good morning, distinguished guests, esteemed representatives from government ministries, development partners, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders present.

My name is Joyce Nakato, Team Lead at Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum (UYAHF) and Co-Chair National of Girls Not Brides Uganda. It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you today on behalf of the National Partnership to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy in Uganda.

Today, as we reflect on our shared journey, we are reminded that protecting our children—especially our girls—is not a task for tomorrow but a responsibility for today. The urgency is real. The moment is now. Together, we must continue to do what is right.

About Girls Not Brides

Girls Not Brides is a global partnership of over 1,400 civil society organizations across more than 100 countries.

We share a united vision: to end child marriage and ensure that every girl lives free from violence, with access to education, health, and opportunity.

We are grateful to the Girls Not Brides Global Secretariat for joining us virtually today. Their technical and financial support has been instrumental in strengthening our work and amplifying our impact.

Who We Are: Girls Not Brides Uganda

Founded in 2013, Girls Not Brides Uganda (GNBU) is hosted by CEDO, co-chaired by UYAHF as our national partner, and PLAN International as our international partner.

Today, GNBU comprises 147 member organizations working at community, district, regional, and national levels—all committed to ending child marriage and enabling children to thrive.

Our steering committee of 15 members includes five regional coordinators, ensuring that our work remains inclusive, locally grounded, and nationally aligned.

GNBU is a proud strategic partner to the Government of Uganda in implementing the National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy. Together with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, UNICEF, and UNFPA, we have supported both the mid-term review and end-term evaluation of the 2015–2020 ECM strategy.

We have also led national campaigns aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 5.3—to eliminate harmful practices such as child marriage and FGM—and convened dialogues to track progress on government commitments to reduce adolescent pregnancies.

What We Do

Our work centers on empowering girls and boys with age-appropriate, rights-based information. We help young people recognize child marriage and early pregnancy as violations of their rights—and act against them.

GNBU members also:

• Advocate progressive laws, policies, and programs.
• Implement community-based interventions that strengthen institutions.
• Work to shift harmful norms that perpetuate child marriage.

We have proudly supported the Global Program to End Child Marriage (GPECM) Phase II and contributed to the design of Phase III, ensuring that youth-led and women-led organizations remain at the forefront of this movement.

A Call to Action

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our upcoming Annual Girl Summit 25th November 2025—a powerful platform to:

• Intensify policy and legal advocacy.
• Elevate girls’ voices.
• Galvanize national action.

We invite all stakeholders—government ministries, development partners, donors, and the private sector—to join us in this celebration and recommitment.

Together, we can build a Uganda where every girl is protected, empowered, and given the opportunity to reach her full potential.

In Conclusion

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Desmond Tutu.

Child marriage is an injustice we cannot afford to ignore. As stakeholders, leaders, and advocates, we must never be neutral.

May we always choose to act, to speak, and to stand for what is right—because every girl deserves a future free from harm, full of promise, and rich with opportunity.

On behalf of the Girls Not Brides Uganda partnership, I thank you for your unwavering support and collaboration. We stand ready to serve, to partner, and to lead.

Let us continue working hand in hand toward a future where child marriage is no longer a reality—and every girl’s voice is heard, respected, and celebrated.

I remain, Joyce Nakato
Co-Chair, Girls Not Brides Uganda